Interview with Sébastien Heurt... I totally agree. It is a standard of practice upon which we should all measure ourselves before even claiming to be able to teach others.More... By GuillaumeErard
Interview with Sébastien Heurt... An enlightening interview. It broadens the discussion of what it means to train in aikido, and what it takes to gain insight into the art. Thank you very much.More... By Mel Lindsey
The travelling Aikidoka's guid... Hi :) Just to say thanks for your guide which help me a lot in my trip to Hombu dojo in october. I had great times, will come back for sure :)More... By Miraille Jérémie
Documentary on Daito-ryu Aiki-... Great video! I loved the interview. Getting Sensei to talk instead of eating his ramen means he must really be passionate about his art! :lol:More... By Oisin Bourke
The reasons for the success of... I've been through Aikido for 4-5 years..and still use that spirit, that Aikido gave to me. And still is very thankful for something new. And still miss Aikido..your article was like a flashback to my ...More... By yakudzenok
A massive earthquake of a 8.8 magnitude (the biggest ever since Japan started recordings 140 years ago) occured in the Pacific Ocean at about 160 km from North-eastern Japan at 2:46pm on March 11 (JST). Significant damages occured and an up to 10 m tsunami hit the coastal areas. The death count keeps rising as the water clears. Below are the post I gave at the time.
Friday, March 18, 2011 – 09 h35 (JST): While on the train to Kansai airport, we have made the decision not to take the plane back to France. Megumi could not leave knowing that her family is still in Tokyo. On my side, I could not leave her alone so we cancelled our tickets by phone. We took the Shinkansen from Kansai international airport to Tokyo. The weather is getting threatening and rain makes potential radioactive exposure more important. I have to do this for her but I really feel like I am on a journey bringing me back to hell...
Thursday, March 17, 2011 – 10h20 (JST): We have just booked two tickets on Air France to return to France tomorrow. The news are not getting better seismically and at Fukushima and we are wasting a lot of money in Osaka. Besides, we really need a break; this constant tension is really wearing us out.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 - 20 h 14 (JST): We're in a hotel in Osaka. The mood is not great but we feel that a lot of pressure has lifted off our shoulders. However, we spend most of our time in the hotel room, just sitting and watching the news. Hopefully tomorrow we will do a bit of tourism which will hopefully change our mood. I am getting a few emails from friends who are also down in Kansai, we give each other's news but still we keep little isolated and prostrated.
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 09 h 04 (JST): We're on the plane. We feel a bit guilty to be leaving but since we are both on holiday, we do not see much point in staying in Tokyo, especially in case of a panic starting, we want to stay away from the megalopolis. We will return when things are a bit more stable. Recorded atmospheric radioactivity in Tokyo this morning was significantly higher than normal...
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 06 h 26 (JST): We left Tokyo this morning by taxi. The streets are deserted, people stayed at home today. We expect a massive earthquake to hit at any time and the idea of waiting on the reclaimed land in Haneda is quite worrying but this is the only solution. The post-apocalyptic landscape due to this lack of human activity reminds me of the Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later ...
Sunday, March 13, 2011 - 22 h 19 (JST): Bad news from the plant in Fukushima continue to arrive and we received a serious warning advising that there was a 70% chance that a replica of a magnitude equivalent to that of the earthquake last Friday would occur within 5 days. Megumi and I decided to go to Osaka for an indefinite period. We will fly tomorrow morning from Haneda Airport. Narita Airport is no longer easily accessible and many flights have been cancelled. We are preparing our suitcase in a hurry, hoping that everything will be calm tonight.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 - 21 h 45 (JST): I was quite unsettled this afternoon, I did not know what to do and after wandering around for a while, my steps naturally led me to the Aikikai. The atmosphere was very heavy in the changing room. Despite this charged atmosphere, it made me really feel better to practice a bit. People who attended also seemed to be glad to be back on the tatami.
Günter Zorn and his wife Elke were there and we talked about the events of day before. It made me a lot of good to be able to put into words what was happening and to be able to hear their feelings since they have been living in Japan for so many years. This discussion was a very special moment for me, I felt less isolated.
Sugawara Sensei was at his post and he ensured class as usual. His steadfast presence and solid Aikido played like a real anchor for us who had come to practice.
It was during the break of 18 h 30 that ChewBoon Tan told us that there had been an explosion at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. We had no other information on the severity of the burst. We did not know if we were to expect an imminent nuclear holocaust, if we had to go home, take refuge somewhere, or just keep practising. Sugawara Sensei was back at 19 h 00 and we just kept practising.
In retrospect, I think that I was lucky that this news came while I was at the Hombu Dojo, with these people who are the closest thing to a family for me in Japan. In all my articles I always insist on the fact that for me, the Aikikai is a great family, certainly a little dysfunctional, but a family nonetheless. In extreme cases like this, I really think my feeling is not at all exaggerated.
Saturday, March 12, 2011: Today, the trains are running more or less regularly. People went back to work and we are all keeping an eye on the nuclear power plants situation.
Friday, March 11, 2011 - 01h56 (JST): The Tokyu Toyoko line started again later in the everning and I managed to get home by 1 am. All kids and staff at school got home or found a shelter for the night. The crowd at Shibuya station waiting to get a train back to suburbian areas was enormous, even given Japan's standards.
Friday, March 11, 2011 - 20h02 (JST): We are still waiting for parents to collect their kids. Most kids got home safely and we are waiting in the library. The moral is good even though many families have no electricity tonight. We are lucky at school as the power and Internet is on. Many staff members offered me to stay with tonight as it seems unlikely that I can make it home. All train lines are stopped until tomorrow and the traffci is horrendous.
Friday, March 11, 2011 - 18h34 (JST): I am fine, it shoock quite a bit but everything is ok. I am stuck at work and there is no access to facebook. My phone does not work either. I am going to sit that one out at school in Yokohama until the trains start again. Taxis are useless because of the traffic jams. I'll return to Tokyo whenever I can.
Friday 11th March 2011 - 14h45 (JST): Wow, I was sitting at my desk when a violent earthquake just occured. It is estimated at 7.6 magnitude. Here in Yokohama, it was ascribed a 5+. The kids are very calm and we are waiting for subsequent tremors.
A massive 